The Crime Factory

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Category: Personal Takes

  • Don’t Just Write What You Know – Make Stuff Up (Writing Advice)

    Most writing guides hit you with the same mantra: “write what you know.” But here’s the real deal: if every storyteller only wrote from personal experience, our bookshelves would look like one endless memoir section. Instead, embrace a little creative freedom—write what you know as a starting point, then let your imagination take off. 1.… →

  • The Power of Profanity in Hardboiled Fiction

    By Alex MercerWarning: This article contains strong language. Hardboiled crime stories and classic noir often carry an unmistakable edge – not only in their plots but in the very words their characters speak. Some readers balk at every expletive, and major review outlets quietly insist on a PG-13 limit. But is sanitizing dialogue really true… →

  • Grit and Grace: Down to the Bone’s Unflinching Look at Addiction

    By Jordan Ellis, Guest Writer Drug addiction on screen often veers into the spectacular – hallucinatory sequences, convulsive withdrawals, baroque visual flourishes. We remember Rent’s nightmare baby in Trainspotting, the frantic motel escape in Drugstore Cowboy, or the gruesome spirals of Requiem for a Dream. Yet Debra Granik’s debut feature Down to the Bone offers… →

  • Guns: A Personal Dilemma

    by Evan Booker I’ll be honest from the start: guns make me nervous. I don’t like being around them, I don’t want one in my house, and I believe we’d all be a little safer if they weren’t so easy to get. This isn’t a political rant. If you’re a gun owner, that’s your choice… →

  • An Insightful Journey with Scott Phillips: Writing, Adaptation, and Noir Fiction

    Introduction Scott Phillips – a name synonymous with gripping noir fiction and intriguing storytelling. Born in Wichita, Kansas, Phillips has masterfully intertwined elements of crime, character-driven plots, and dark humor into his works. This article explores his journey, creative process, and reflections on the evolution of his novels, as shared during an interview with Noel… →

  • The Seduction of Violence

    I like violence. I like it in movies, on my TV and in books. I like MMA fighting. It gives me an adrenaline rush, increases my heart rate, has me holding my breath, my entire body tensing. I like Jason Statham, old marital arts movies with Bruce Lee, Steven Segal, Jackie Chan. I like watching… →

  • Ben Wheatley’s Kill List and My Unsettling Films List

      Late last night I attended a packed screening of Kill List and to say that it fucked me up is to put it tres-fucking-mildly. Wheatley’s debut film Down Terrace is one of the true sleepers of the last decade, a crime film by turns loose and funny then disturbingly bloody and deeply unsettling, a… →

  • What You’ll Be Reading This Year

    Hi, I’m Alex Monroe, a lifelong book enthusiast and passionate crime fiction fan. Over the years, I’ve come across some incredible stories that have left a lasting impression on me, and I thought it was time to share a few of my favorites with you. These books are more than just thrilling reads—they’re unforgettable journeys… →

  • Exceptional Police Novels That Break the Mold

    When it comes to crime fiction, police novels often dominate the landscape. While not all follow the same formula, many of them explore deeper themes, complex characters, and unique perspectives on law enforcement and the human condition. Here’s a curated list of ten authors whose works stand out in this popular subgenre. 1) Charles Willeford… →

  • The Heart of Noir Fiction: Compassion in the Shadows

    Noir fiction holds a special place in the world of crime literature. It’s a subgenre that goes beyond solving mysteries and dives deep into the raw, unfiltered reality of human flaws. These stories don’t shy away from the dispossessed, the morally dubious, or the emotionally broken. Instead, they amplify voices often ignored in polite society,… →